CNR Graduate Student Funding

The purpose of the Forest Biometrics Research Institute (FBRI) Doctoral Fellowship is to facilitate the education of forestry professionals toward an advanced understanding and application of forest biometric principals and methods. Fellows are expected to become proficient in nonparametric statistical methods as related to forestry and forest management technologies. FBRI supports and provides the Forest Projection & Planning System (FPS), which is the industry standard for managing forest ownerships. In addition to providing financial assistance, FBRI is offering access to a large database of field research installations and felled-tree measurements encompassing six western States and over two dozen tree species.

The FBRI Fellowship is a three-year commitment to the selected student. The student is expected to complete all coursework and a dissertation leading to a PhD in the three-year time frame. The candidate must hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management from an SAF-accredited forestry program and be operationally familiar with the silviculture and tree species of the western United States. The selected FBRI Fellow will join a larger cohort of Masters and Doctoral graduate students pursing advanced knowledge in the fields of Forest Biometrics and Silviculture. FBRI Students will be located in graduate student space within the College of Natural Resources. The FBRI Fellow’s doctoral committee will include one Ph.D. FBRI Biometrician.

FBRI Fellowship Funds Available: $20,800 research assistant stipend and coverage of resident fees* and student medical insurance for 3 years. The College of Natural Resources will provide each FBRI Fellow with $3,000 per year to cover research costs such as computer, field equipment, and travel.

* A full-time RA includes a waiver of non-resident fees.

Options and resources also exist for MS FBRI Fellows and for externally funded students to join in on the FBRI program. To learn more, please visit the program site.

Please apply to the University of Idaho’s College of Graduate Studies (COGS) via the standard application process: Apply Now
Within your letter of application, please specifically highlight why you are interesting becoming a FBRI Fellow. Also on the CNR Area of Emphasis Form please write “FBRI Fellowship” where it asks you to highlight a CNR Faculty member you have been corresponding with.

Applications Due/Start Date: The FBRI Fellowship ideally begins with the start of the Fall Semester. The student is expected to select a dissertation research topic within the scope of the FBRI field of applied technologies (nonparametric methods, quantitative aspects of tree site capacity, tree form, or tree growth dynamics.

Each semester, CNR expects to award up to two (2) Ph.D. Finishing Fellowships to support exceptional doctoral candidates. Candidates must have passed their preliminary examination and have fulfilled the requirements of their study plan at the time of receiving the award. The CNR Ph.D. Finishing Fellowship will provide full support (19.5 hr. TH stipend + tuition / fees for 1 credit + medical benefits, if needed) for one semester (spring, fall). Note: International students can seek a waiver from IPO to complete their last semester as part-time. Students can elect to have this fellowship paid over 1 or 2 semesters if used in conjunction with other sources of funding (such as an RA or TA). Please note that if you have a RA or TA appointment, COGS will require that your register for 9 credits that semester. As such, it is not recommended to combine the finishing fellowship with a RA/TA in the same semester. A Finishing Fellowship can only be held once.

Eligibility

GPA > 3.5 (must state GPA in statement)

Current Ph.D. students that have a CNR-based major or co-major professor. Co-major professor must be officially approved by COGS and reflected on Degree Audit.

Candidates must have passed their preliminary examination and have fulfilled the requirements of their study plan.

The major professor must verify that the student will complete their degree during the semester(s) they are supported by the Finishing Fellowship.

Must be able to pass a criminal background check.

Application Procedures

The College of Natural Resources welcomes applications for the CNR Ph.D. Finishing Fellowship by the following date:

A statement of research (this should include a brief summary of research performed to date, future research plans, and a brief statement of need). This should include a description of how the impact of their research aligns with the strategic plan of the college and university. Applicants must include a statement detailing what semester (spring, fall) the funding is requested. Two (2) pages maximum.

Current vitae (we recommend NSF or other agency format, although there is no required format). Two (2) pages maximum.

A concise, complete statement highlighting the student’s exceptional accomplishments to date, such as scholarly publications, contributions to teaching, or other significant activities.

Information that outlines what research and writing has already been accomplished.

Information describing the financial need of the candidate and what other sources of funding have already been applied to this student.

A statement describing the likelihood of the student completing their degree in the semester(s) during which the student will hold the fellowship.

The CNR Graduate Council Committee will evaluate the application packets based on the following criteria:

The merit of the research statement.

The perceived impact, significance, and relevance of the research to the broad mission of the College of Natural Resources.

The likelihood of finishing.

The student’s need for funding (based on their other sources of funding).

All decisions of the CNR Graduate Council Committee are final and applicants will be notified prior to the end of the semester during which the application is submitted. If successful, Fellows will be expected to:

Pass a criminal background check.

Submit a summary of their research for publication on the CNR website and or magazine.

Have a photograph taken by a CNR photographer and used by the College to promote its exceptional graduate students.

Each semester, the CNR expects to award up to two (2) M.S. to Ph.D. Bridge Fellowships to support exceptional students initially enrolled in a M.S. degree within CNR that wish to advance to a Ph.D. degree within CNR, but do not have financial support. The CNR M.S. to Ph.D. Bridge Fellowships will provide up to (20 hr./wk. RA stipend + full-time tuition / fees + medical benefits, if applicable) for one semester (spring, fall). Students can only receive a M.S. to Ph.D. Bridge Fellowship a maximum of two (2) times.

Eligibility

MS GPA > 3.5 (must state GPA in statement)

Current UI enrolled CNR M.S. students transitioning to a Ph.D. that have a CNR-based major professor or co-major professor. Co-major professor must be officially approved by COGS and reflected on Degree Audit. Or a first semester Ph.D. student in CNR that has a CNR-based major professor or co-major professor, who was previously enrolled in a UI M.S. degree.

Must have submitted or received a competitive proposal for graduate funding (NSF, EPA STAR, JFSP GRIN, NASA, etc.) or have been involved in the submission of a competitive funding proposal where the student played a significant role. In the latter case, the student must provide a letter (or email) from the project PI that clearly describes the role of the student in writing the proposal. This scenario is mainly aimed at funding calls that require a faculty member as the PI of record and is not aimed at projects where the student is involved as a participant.

Must be able to pass a criminal background check.

Application Procedures

The College of Natural Resources welcomes applications for the CNR M.S. to Ph.D. Bridge Fellowship by the following date:

Annual Deadline: 3rd Friday in February (15th Feb 2019)

Importantly, the CNR M.S. to Ph.D. Bridge Fellowship can be sought more than one semester in advance. For example, a Bridge Fellowship application can be submitted for the February deadline for use the following Spring semester. If external funding is secured by a successful awardee of a Bridge Fellowship, the timing and/or the amount awarded may be re-negotiated at the discretion of the Dean.

A statement of research (this should include a brief summary of research performed to date, future research plans, and a brief statement of need). This should include a description of how the impact of their research aligns with the strategic plan of the college and university. Applicants must include a statement detailing what semester (spring, fall) the funding is requested. Two (2) pages maximum.

Current vitae (we recommend NSF or other agency format, although there is no required format). Two (2) pages maximum.

A concise, complete statement highlighting the student’s exceptional accomplishments to date, such as scholarly publications, contributions to teaching, or other significant activities.

Information that outlines what research and writing has already been accomplished.

Information describing the financial need of the candidate and what other sources of funding have already been applied to this student.

A statement describing the likelihood of the student succeeding in the doctoral program, including obtaining funding for support for the remainder of the program. This letter
must also document funding the student has applied for or received to conduct their Ph.D. and what significant role(s) they may have played in a group submission for funding.

The CNR Graduate Council Committee will evaluate the application packets based on the following criteria:

The merit of the research statement.

The perceived impact, significance, and relevance of the research to the broad mission of the College of Natural Resources.

The likelihood of continuing in the program.

The student’s need for funding (based on their other sources of funding).

All decisions of the CNR Graduate Council Committee are final and applicants will be notified prior to the end of the semester during which the application is submitted. If successful, Fellows will be expected to:

Pass a criminal background check.

Submit a summary of their research for publication on the CNR website and or magazine.

Have a photograph taken by a CNR photographer and used by the College to promote its exceptional graduate students.

Each semester, the CNR expects to award several Graduate Travel Grants (up to $1500), Research Grants (up to $2500), and In-State Tuition Scholarships.

The Travel Grants are intended to support CNR graduate students to attend professional conferences or conduct fieldwork. All travel is limited to the USA. M.S. students can only receive the award once, while Ph.D students can only receive these awards a maximum of two times. Travel Grants will only be awarded if the student is presenting (talk or poster) their own data. The letter from the major professor should speak to the data requirement. Travel grants may be awarded to non-thesis Masters students (NR, ENVS, MNR, PSM) that are also presenting their own data at scientific conferences.

The Research Grants are intended for unexpected costs that were not budgeted (e.g., fieldwork, journal page charges, or sample analyses).

For Travel and Research Grants a budget with a half-page justification must be included with the statement or the application will not be reviewed.

In-State Tuition Scholarships are intended to support CNR graduate students that have received (or will receive) competitive funding scholarships where coverage of in-state tuition was not allowed. Preference will be given to students that have received funds from agencies that do not permit paying in-state tuition over awards that provide a lump sum, where fees could be paid in lieu of salary. These grants will be preferentially awarded to students that applied and received their own funding (ISGC awards, GRIN, etc.). Place-bound doctoral students may also be awarded these grants but must provide a statement of why they need to have in-state tuition covered.

Eligibility

GPA > 3.5 (must state GPA in statement).

Current M.S. or Ph.D. students within the College of Natural Resources (FWS, FRFS, NRS, or ENVS with CNR-based major professor or co-major professor). Co-major professor must be officially approved by COGS and reflected on Degree Audit.

A 1-page letter outlining the need for the grant. This letter should clearly detail what the funds are needed for and explain other sources of funds that have already been explored (e.g., GPSA or research awards) or obtained. This should include a description of how the impact of their research aligns with the strategic plan of the college and university. Applicants must include a statement detailing what semester (spring, fall) the funding is requested. Applicants must state which category they are applying for (e.g. research, travel, in-state tuition). Two (2) pages maximum.

Current vitae (we recommend NSF or other agency format, although there is no required format). Two (2) pages maximum.

A concise, complete statement highlighting the student’s exceptional accomplishments to date, such as scholarly publications, contributions to teaching, or other significant activities.

Information that outlines what research and writing has already been accomplished.

Information describing the financial need of the candidate and what other sources of funding have already been applied to this student.

For the In-state Tuition Scholarships the advisor must include either a brief statement detailing why tuition is not covered OR in the case of a place-bound doctoral student, a signed letter from their current employer that includes a statement that tuition/fees are not being covered.

The CNR Graduate Council Committee will evaluate the application packets based on the following criteria:

The perceived impact, significance, and relevance of the research to the broad mission of the College of Natural Resources.

The student’s need for funding (based on their other sources of funding).

The student’s experience and record of research to date.

All decisions of the CNR Graduate Council Committee are final and applicants will be notified prior to the end of the semester during which the application is submitted. If successful, Awardees will be expected to:

Pass a criminal background check.

Submit a summary of their research for publication on the CNR website and or magazine.

Have a photograph taken by a CNR photographer and used by the College to promote its exceptional graduate students.

Allow CNR to use the Awardees' photograph for promotional purposes.

Students should note that these are merit-based fellowships. The CNR Graduate Council Committee reserves the right to not award all available funding in any one cycle. As well, success will depend on the strength of the qualified applicant pool in any cycle. In line with the University of Idaho’s Strategic Plan, funding support will preferentially support Ph.D. students.